PIA Press ReleaseMonday, January 09, 2012

PopCom traces high malnutrition rate to big families

by Aurora Casimpan

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Jan 9 (PIA) -- The report of the National Nutrition Council on the decrease of malnutrition rate in Eastern Visayas has convinced the top official of the regional Commission on Population that significant gains in the fight against malnutrition can be achieved through smaller sized families.

NNC-8 reported that the region’s malnutrition rate has decreased from 18.17 percent in 2009 to 15.70 percent in 2010. Despite the decrease in malnutrition rate, the nutrition office admitted that it is a challenge to attain zero malnutrition in the region.

PopCom regional director Leo Roma opined that big families in the region are to blame for the high malnutrition rate because of the inability of many families to provide for the nutritional requirements of children.

Rama said that the problem of malnutrition is prevalent in rural areas where families have many children. The problem had been traced to couples with no access to family planning methods and proper information.

It was explained that contributing factors to the malnutrition rate is the inability of low income families to afford adequate food which fails to meet the required intake levels for proper nourishment. Big families limit the amount of food available to household members.

Rama disclosed that PopCom is focusing its campaign on responsible parenting in rural areas where family size is bigger and family income is lower. (PIA 8)